Landräddningen- structuring human support and volunteers the app way

Rationale for seminar and how it relates to the conference theme: New and good technological solutions are needed to enable older persons to age in place, i.e., to remain living in their own housing, with safety and security as long as possible (Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology, 2011). Importantly, ageing in place is the general policy in Sweden these days (National Board of Health and Welfare, 2011) and the municipalities are responsible for supporting older persons in their own housing. On the other hand a great deal of support to older persons is informal and provided by family caregivers, i.e., partners or relatives providing basic care (Johansson, Long & Parker, 2012). Moreover, technologies supporting ageing in place are likely to influence health in a positive way from both the older persons’ and their family caregiver’s perspective. “Landräddningen” provides a GPS-based extended safety and support system (ESS) available through a mobile phone application or a special unit that the user wears around the wrist. Both these (app and special unit) works outside the home, while the traditional PERS (personal emergency response system) provided by the municipalities works merely inside the users’ home. Importantly, it is a vital, societal goal that everyone, regardless of age, functional ability and circumstance in life feel secure also when participating in activities outside the home and being mobile in the community. Consequently, “Landräddningen” is an innovative, technological solution that supports ageing in place, by also filling a gap in social services. The user of “Landräddningen” could let family caregivers follow their position when they feel unsafe. It is also possible to establish a safe perimeter (geo fencing) for people with impaired orientation or memory. “Landräddningen” also provide a monitoring station that in case of an unplanned incident could search for available, listed volunteers that could support users on spot or in case of e